Jury still out in Bryan Holder sniper trial

Wednesday

May 8, 2013 at 10:16 PM

A Boiling Springs man accused of attempting to murder three people must wait another day to learn his fate.

By KIM KIMZEY kim.kimzey@shj.com

A Boiling Springs man accused of attempting to murder three people must wait another day to learn his fate.More than four hours after jurors began deliberating Wednesday, they asked Circuit Judge Derham Cole to allow them to leave for the evening and resume deliberations today.Bryan Marion Holder, 21, of 925 Wesley Court, Apt. 29, is charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.The prosecution asserts Holder randomly targeted victims and shot at them with a 30.06 rifle equipped with a scope about 1:30 a.m. July 2.A bullet pierced the passenger side door of a Mazda Miata parked outside the Raceway gas station at 8671 Asheville Highway in the Springfield community.Bonnie Raines, then 19, was sitting in the passenger seat. The bullet tore through one side of her body before it hit the center console. Bobby Swigert Jr. was sitting beside Raines.A third victim was pressure washing concrete at the Ingles Gas Mart across the highway. He testified Tuesday he heard gunfire, including two shots near him.Holder's co-defendant, Mattison Tyler Schomer, 18, of 124 West Drive, Spartanburg, pleaded no contest last month to three counts of attempted murder and receiving stolen goods in connection to the incident.Holder's attorney, Chris Thompson, has suggested Schomer was the triggerman, concocted stories to pin the blame on Holder and sold the 30.06 rifle for marijuana so he wouldn't be linked to Raines' shooting.The 30.06 rifle was one of several firearms stolen from a home on Bethesda Road days before the shootings. Money, electronics and other items also were stolen. Holder admitted to stealing the items.There was testimony that another stolen gun was fired in the same field. That gun and stolen ammunition were later found in Schomer's possession.Thompson said in closing statements that Holder "owned up" to being in the field several hundred yards from Asheville Highway, target practicing with the gun that a forensic firearms expert said in court was the one that fired recovered shell casings near the crime scene.Holder testified Tuesday that he wanted to shoot the gun, which he planned to sell.Holder said he and Schomer went to a field near Schomer's home. Holder claimed he took aim at a metal, free standing sign and the lid of a five-gallon drum, but denied shooting at people.Thompson asked jurors not to let one of Schomer's "false" statements result in a guilty verdict. Schomer admitted in court to changing his story five times.Thompson told jurors that based on where the bullet hit the car — an officer testified he thought the bullet entered 14 to 16 inches above the ground — that the shooter was lying down.Thompson pointed out that Schomer provided previous testimony that Holder was standing up as he shot at people.Thompson said Schomer had the rifle in his possession several days after Holder was arrested on the theft charges.Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette held up the 30.06 before jurors. "This gun was used to shoot at all three individuals that night," Barnette said. Holder testified that he did not look through the scope on the gun, but Barnette said there was no metal site on the gun to aim with."(Holder) was the shooter," Barnette declared.Even if jurors believed the defense's assertion that Schomer was the shooter, Holder, Barnette said, aided and abetted him."The hand of one is the hand of all," Barnette said.Barnette said Holder was "the one in control."It was Holder, Barnette said, who placed calls to people after stealing items to get a ride and help moving the guns. Holder also admitted he asked one witness to change a police statement against him in connection to the larceny.Even if Holder is found not guilty of attempted murder, he could be convicted of other crimes.Jurors could find him guilty of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in the shooting of Raines, and guilty of first-degree assault and battery for the other two victims who were not shot.An attempted murder conviction carries up to 30 years in prison; assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature carries up to 20 years; first-degree assault and battery carries up to 10 years. Jurors will resume deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.